Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg
ZENARiO –Center for Sustainable Spatial Development
Applied Geography and Environmental Planning Research Group
Prof. Dr. Ingo Mose
Jean Monnet Chair “Europeanization and Sustainable Spatial Development”
in cooperation with Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (HWK) – Institute for Advanced Study, Delmenhorst
Conceptual frame for an international workshop:
“Parks of the Future – Protected Areas in Europe Challenging Issues of Societal Transformation”
26 – 27 February, 2014
Protected areas across Europe, especially large protected areas such as National Parks, Biosphere
Reserves, or Nature Parks, are increasingly addressing a multitude of different aims and tasks.
Further than “only” the protection of valuable ecosystems and endangered species protected areas
find themselves involved with activities such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, or environmental
education. As a result many protected areas today are regarded as multifunctional landscapes which
have been interpreted as an obvious change of paradigm in area protection. Against the background
of an engaged conceptual discourse, additional aims have been expressed by identifying protected
areas as possible test-beds or even models for sustainable development. This applies particularly to
Biosphere Reserves since these are regarded as model landscapes for sustainable development by
definition. But also other types of protected areas are more and more seen in this perspective. Thus
many protected areas have become important actors in addressing major problems and challenges at
international and even global scale. According to various scientific studies as well as political
declarationsof different provenance the relevance of these challenges cannot be denied at all and
adequate action has become more than urgent. Among others, coping with climate change, threats
to biodiversity, configuration of energy transition, facing demographic change, to name but a few,
are important issues in a wider context of transformation processes our societies are facing today.
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Against this background a selected number of researchers across Germany and several other
European countries have been invited by the Applied Geography and Environmental Planning
Research Group at Oldenburg University and the Jean Monnet Chair currently held by this group for a
workshop at the Hanse Institute of Advanced Study in Delmenhorst, Germany in February 2014.The
meeting is meant to address the question whether protected areas in Europe are being affected by
the problems mentioned above and if they could possibly make contributions in successfully
addressing these and how. Participants will be from various institutional and disciplinary
backgrounds and are expected to discuss and reflect upon the questions briefly sketched in ways of
creative thinking and engaged debate.
The workshop will be structured by groups of themes as listed below and will make use of short
thematic inputs by selected participants to stimulate the debate. As soon as the list of participants
has been closed, the required input will be negotiated among the researchers involved.
In addition, all participants shortly will be asked to provide a brief summary of their expertise and
personal interest in the subject which will be distributed among the group before the workshop
meeting.
To ensure structured and efficient debate the workshop will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Dirk Strijker
from Groningen University, Netherlands who has been employed in similar functions on several
occasions before.
Possible results of the workshop could be agreements upon an anthology of the issues raised during
the meeting edited by the organizer (and possibly other participants interested) or a joint attempt to
access European funding for further collaboration.
The organizer will offer all participants payment for their travel costs (on the basis of the cheapest
possible way of access, rail or air) and accommodation for two nights at a local hotel in Delmenhorst
Reservations will be made by the Hanse Institute. During the workshop lite lunches and dinner will be
provided.
For any questions participants are kindly requested to approach the following address:
Carlotta.Schulz@uni-oldenburg.de
Oldenburg, 17 November 2013
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Preliminary outline of the programme
Tuesday, 25 February 2014
All day
Participants arrive in Delmenhorst
19.30
Joint dinner at local hotel in Delmenhorst
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
09.00
Arrival of participants at Institute for Advanced Study
09.30
Official opening of workshop
Welcome addresses by
Prof. Dr. RetoWeiler, Director HWK
Prof. Dr. Ingo Mose, Director ZENARiO
10.00
Introduction to workshop and book project
Prof. Dr. Ingo Mose
10.30
Short introduction of participants
11.00
Opening lectures
A. Parks of the future: Which role can parks play for sustainable development in
Germany?
Dr. Volker Scherfose, Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Berlin
B. Parks of the future: Expectations in a European perspective
Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC
Following discussion among participants
13.00
Lunch break: Lite meal at HWK
14.00
Start of workshop debate
First sample of selected issues: sustainable forms of land-use, configuration of
energy transition, sustainable recreation and tourism,facing demographic change
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Dirk Strijker, Groningen
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Short thematic inputs by ….
N.N.: Parks and sustainable forms of land-use
NN: Parks and configuration of energy transition
N.N.: Parks and sustainable recreation and tourism
NN: Parks facing demographic change
During workshop coffee and tea will be provided
18.00 -
Joint dinner at HWK
Informal talks among participants
Transfer to hotel,
Thursday, 27 February 2014
09.00
Workshop debate continues
Second sample of selected issues: coping with climate change, threats to
biodiversity, safeguarding landscape and open space
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Dirk Strijker
Short thematic inputs by ….
N.N.:Parks coping with climate change
N.N.: Parks and threats to biodiversity
N.N.: Parks safeguarding landscape and open space
During workshop coffee and tea will be provided
13.00
Lunch break: Lite meal at HWK
14.00
Reflection upon general outcome of the workshop among participants
15.00
Summary of workshop, possible agreements regarding book project and other
possible joint activities
Prof. Dr. Ingo Mose
16.00
End of workshop
Participants depart
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